FALLEN ANGEL Chapter 4: In Good Hands

“Yukiko-chan?” She heard her mother’s voice from the other side of the door.

“You can come in, Mom!” Angel called, calmly sitting up on her bed as her door opened and her mother appeared with a smile that she could tell was forced. “What’s wrong?”

Her mother sighed, fiddling with her hands. “Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Mom.” Angel said in a firm voice that maintained respect but told her mother she knew she was hiding something.

Fumiko sighed and dropped her hands. “Yujiro went out with those friends of his, again. It sounded like they were up to no good. I heard them say something about finding an apartment.”

“An apartment?” Angel frowned, curiously.

“I don’t like those boys he hangs out with, Yukiko-chan. I really don’t.” Her mother said with concern in her voice. “I can be a prude but I trust my instincts.”

Angel grabbed her jacket and stuck her feet into her sneakers. “So do I. You hear where they were headed?”

“I think they mentioned the riverwalk.”

Angel kissed her mother on the cheek and headed out. The riverwalk in Dotonbori could be a good and bad place all at once. You had the best shops on one side, for tourists to visit. It was also where local riff raff liked to congregate. From what her mother told her, that’s what Yujiro’s friends could be considered.

It didn’t take long to get to the riverwalk. Mention of a house meant they were across from the tourist side, near the residential area. Angel remembered she used to get in all sorts of trouble there, as a kid. She hated that her brother seemed to be doing the same, though. It took even less time to actually find Yujiro once she started walking along the backs of the apartments. She was able to pick him out of a group of about four teenagers up ahead. It didn’t look like they were having a friendly conversation. This was confirmed as Angel got closer.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea!” Yujiro said to the tallest one, with his hair grown out and tied in a ponytail. A foreign music band logo on his t-shirt.

“You’re being a fucking pussy! You said you wanted to make some money, right?” Ponytail said, talking with his hands. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, as did the other two. Why was Yujiro hanging out with them?

“I do! But I don’t wanna steal it!” Yujiro replied, shifting nervously. “I’m going home. You guys can do this without me.”

“Hold up, shortstack.” One of the other kids said. He had a buzzcut and a tanktop. “You think you can just bounce on us? How do we know you ain’t gonna go get the cops?”

“What? I’m not gonna rat on you guys! I just don’t wanna be apart of this!” Yujiro pleaded. “I’m going home. I’ll catch you guys later. My sister’s leaving for Tokyo tomorrow.”

“You ain’t going anywhere, punk. You’re either with us on this or do we have to beat some sense into you?” Ponytail threatened.

“What?!” The look of betrayal on Yujiro’s face was evident. Ponytail grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him forward to keep him from backing away.

“HEY!” Angel’s voice pierced the air and four pairs of eyes all fell on her.

“Onee-chan?!” Yujiro looked like he’d just been caught smoking cigarettes in his room by their mom.

“The hell’s your sister following us for?” The third of Yujiro’s friends snapped. He had a face full of metal piercings. Far from attractive on his part.

“Did you tell her what we were doing?!” Buzzcut shoved Yujiro hard in the shoulder.

“No! I swear, I--”

“You boys talk too much. We’ll leave it at that.”

Buzzcut sighed and punched Piercings in the shoulder. “Baka yarou!”

“Ow!” Piercings rubbed his arm.

“I told you his mom was gonna hear us! You and your big fucking mouth!” Ponytail added, angrily.

“Yujiro-kun. Let’s go home.” Angel said firmly, motioning over her shoulder with her head.

“Hold up!” Ponytail put the back of his hand on Yujiro’s chest. “You miss the part where we said he ain’t going anywhere? Goes for you, too. I ain’t getting locked up!”

Angel rolled her eyes and pointed at the apartment building. “Look, I’m no saint. You wanna be an idiot and break into somewhere because you think you’ll score big? Go ahead. You’ll get your just due, some day. But my brother’s not gonna be there, when it happens. Yujirokun! C’mon.”

“Just let me go, Shinsuke.” Yujiro sighed and went to join his sister. Shinsuke stepped in front of him and fed him a hard right cross, knocking Yujiro into the grass.

“Hey!” Angel stepped forward, fuming. “You touch him again, the cops are gonna be the least of your fucking problems!” Angel was in partial disbelief. What was wrong with modern day youth?

Ponytail laughed. “Relax, bitch. You got some coming too.” He looked to Buzzcut and Piercings. “Don’t let her go anywhere.”

Angel raised an eyebrow as Buzzcut and Piercings stepped towards her. Like that, huh? She thought as Piercings reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. Before Piercings could blink, Angel threw an arm up and around one of his, catching him in an armlock, pinning it underneath her armpit. Piercings yelped out and Angel pushed him back to grab his wrist and twisted, sending him over, flipping onto his back.

“Shit!” Ponytail exclaimed. “What the fuck are you standing there for?!”

Snapping out of his surprised daze, Buzzcut rushed forward and reached out for her. Angel caught the boy by the wrist and turned, putting her back to him. She used his own momentum to sent him right over her back and onto the ground. Angel kept hold of his wrist and stepped around, trapping his arm between her legs, bending his wrist down to cause discomfort.

“You done trying to play tough?” Angel asked, raising an eyebrow, adding torque to the boy’s arm.

“Agh! Let me go!” Buzzcut whimpered.

“Hey!” Angel looked up at the sound of Ponytail’s voice and saw him stepping towards her. Yujiro pulled himself to his feet behind him, looking more worried than anything. “Think you’re tough, bitch?” Ponytail spat to the side and brought his fists up. “Baby brother’s gonna watch his sister get her cute little ass beat! Then who knows? We might have some fun!”

Angel raised an eyebrow in bewilderment at Ponytail’s bold declaration as the boy drew closer. Ponytail snapped out his fist for a jab. Sloppy. Angel swatted it down, away from her. This annoyed the kid and he threw a two piece at her. Again, Angel batted his hands away with little effort. He definitely didn’t have any discipline in anything. Still, Ponytail brought a leg in for a kick. Really? [/color]Angel snapped her inner leg in and met Ponytail’s shin with hers. Her brother’s “friend” stumbled back, shaking his leg out with a grimace on his face.

Buzzcut and Piercings were back up and Ponytail snapped angrily at them. “Get her ass!”

The first two Angel took down rushed forward, swinging wildly. Angel avoided taking any hits easily by just weaving around and smacking fists out of the way. Piercings tried to show off with a kick of his own. Angel caught it and ‘threw’ his foot at Buzzcut who caught it. By the time they realized what happened, Angel spun low and swept three legs off of the ground, knocking two boys on their ass. Ponytail rushed forward again and Angel met him with a simple thrust kick to the chest to knock him back.

Ponytail rubbed his chest and snorted. “Fuck it! Let’s get outta here! Later loser!” He yelled to Yujiro as the three took off running.

“Still training huh?” Yujiro said, managing a small smirk.

“Always. You okay?” Angel stepped up to check on him. He’d have a bruise, but nothing else. “We’re gonna talk at home. Let’s go.”

“Sugoi! Sugoi!”

A voice, with the sound of clapping made Angel lift her head from Yujiro and look over her shoulder to see four men, all dressed in pinstripe suits, standing back as if they had been observing. Angel didn’t need to ask who they were. She knew the dress code and recognized the pins on their lapels. Angel turned to face them, keeping Yujiro behind her.

“Hello, Yukiko-san.” The one who spoke said with a devilish smirk. “I’d heard you were in town. Visiting family?”

Angel half shrugged. “And working.”

“Ah, yes. I’d heard there was some event taking place from overseas. A tournament?” The man smirked. “Big payout for the winner, I imagine?”

Angel raised her chin and gave him a confirming look.

“Everything alright, here?” The man said, lighting up a cigarette. “Wouldn’t want any trouble on our turf, you know.”

“It’s fine.” Angel reached back and squeezed Yujiro’s arm to make him stay. “Just kids being kids. You know how that is, Ueda-san.”

Ueda chuckled, dragging on his cigarette. “Kids can grow up into troublemakers. You know how that is, Yukiko-san.” He stared at her, silently, for a long moment, considering something. She could tell. Finally, he motioned with his cigarette hand and started to turn away. “Well then. Enjoy your time home. Stay out of trouble!” Ueda turned with the other three and started to leave.

“How is she?” Angel called out to the man. The four men stopped.

“Hmm?” Smirking, Ueda turned to face her and Yujiro. “Ahh. Your sister? She’s in good hands.”

Somehow, those words twisted Angel’s stomach and made her fists clench. “Can I see her, while I’m here?”

“Afraid not.” Ueda shook his head slightly. “You know the arrangement.”

“I wanna talk to your boss.” Angel said boldly.

Ueda chuckled. The three men with him flat out laughed. Ueda puffed on his cigarette and watched her. “You deserve an audience with Boss Yamamoto, now? Miss big shot? Don’t make me laugh. I’ll tell Tanaka you said hello, however.” He started to turn again.

“I just wanna talk to him. Touch base on things. We haven’t missed a payment. You owe me something.” Angel immediately wondered if she said the wrong thing to Ueda as he narrowed his eyes and stayed silent. The silence was too long for comfort.

“Fair.” He said. “I’ll see what I can work out. We’ll be in touch, Yukiko-san.” He said. Angel felt a cold chill as Ueda’s eyes scanned up and down her body. “Good luck in your tournament, Yukiko-san. I’m pretty sure Tsuki’s pulling for you.” Ueda turned and the four men continued their departure.

Angel held her tongue as they left. She didn’t need more trouble before her next match.

“Oneechan?” Yujiro asked tentatively.

Angel put an arm around his shoulders and sighed. “C’mon, troublemaker. Let’s go home. I got a train to Tokyo to catch tomorrow.” Angel said, giving her brother a playful shake as they headed back to the apartment.